Startup Visa

The Opportunity to Bring your Innovative Business to Canada?

Canada's Startup Visa (SUV) Program is intended to attract foreign entrepreneurs who wish to establish new, high-growth businesses in Canada which will support innovation and job creation. To be eligible for the Startup Visa under this stream, entrepreneurs must be accepted into a program offered by a designated Canadian business incubator.

Platform Calgary (previously under Calgary Technologies Inc.) is one of the business incubation programs designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

In addition to receiving a Letter of Support that will allow you to bring your business, your founding team, and your families to Canada, successful applicants will receive additional support from Platform Calgary in the form of:

Regular check points to assess progress

Business coaching & mentoring from our advisors and entrepreneurs-in-residence

Resumes (work experience and education) of applicants, as well as short descriptions of each applicant's role in the proposed venture

Pitch deck - 10-minute presentation (slides only) that describe you and your venture focused on what an investor would want to see

A 3-4 page business case - rather than a full business plan and projected financials, we prefer to see a shorter document that describes the business case:

What is the problem you are trying to solve, and what is your proposed solution

What work have you completed to prove customers have the above problem, and are willing to pay for your solution. Provide evidence

Describe your key partnerships (why Calgary, why now, why your team)

Describe your business development plan. How do you plan to acquire customers?

Describe your financial plan. How do you plan to fund the first two years of development and operations?

APPLY

As soon as you have submitted the three required documents to advisor@platformcalgary.com, please complete our intake form. Please note that due to the high volume of applicants, we will not reply to incomplete applications. A complete application must include the three documents above, as well as a completed intake form.